Perfume

[asterroc]

So, um, I got a bottle of perfume from a friend for my birthday. I've never used perfume before. It's a really nice apple-y one, but I have no clue how much to put on or where, or when, or if I'll be allergic to it. Any tips from the more girly on my friendslist?

Comments

[l0stmyrel1g10n.livejournal.com]

a few drops behind your ears and where your throat meets your clavicle. a little goes a long way with perfume. unfortunately, a lot of people don't seem to realize this. no idea how to tell if you're allergic. i've only had an allergic reaction once in my life, and i don't know if that was to a scent or something else...

[gemini6ice.livejournal.com]

iawtc. you can always apply more later if the smell wears away, but you can't easily UNAPPLY what you've sprayed.

[zandperl.livejournal.com]

How's the strength of perfume compare to that of a body spray?

[l0stmyrel1g10n.livejournal.com]

very much stronger. body spray is meant to be sprayed all over...if your perfume is a spray kind, one spray behind your ears and on your neck would be enough, equivalent to a couple drops.

[meig.livejournal.com]

Perfume is *much* more powerful than body spray.

Cologne and body sprays usually have some alcohol in them and that evaporates very quickly and takes away much of the scent. Perfumes (if it is a true perfume) is more concentrated, so it lasts much longer and a little bit goes a very long way. Also, because of the alcohol, a perfume of the same scent usually smells much different than cologne or body spray of the same scent.

eta: I spel gud :P

[gemini6ice.livejournal.com]

Put one spray on a slip of notecard. Carry it close to you for an entire day to see if you have any allergic reaction to the smell. If not, then try one spray on your wrist (from about 8"-12" away) and go through the day like that to test if your skin will react.

If you're all good (and you like the smell), put one or two sprays around your neck/cleavage area before getting dressed. It will be light and subtle but noticeable. Again, spray from a little distance so that the fragrance is not concentrated in exactly one spot.

[zandperl.livejournal.com]

That's a good idea spraying it on a notecard. Probably I'll stick it in the top of my bookbag, as that way I'll notice it whenever I open my bag and it'll be near my face part of the day for the scent to be around and see what happens. And I'll take my allergy pill like usual just in case. :-P

I've heard that the difference between a perfume and a body spray is how long it lasts. Do you know if that's true? And do you know WHY? I'm guessing the type of oil.

[gemini6ice.livejournal.com]

I don't beliueve (I could be wrong) that body spray actually contains any oil. I believe it's just alcohols, fragrances, and preservatives. I think perfume and cologne have more concentrated fragrance compounds (maybe bound in oils?) that release the smell more continually.

Definitely the smell of perfumes and colognes lasts longer than body sprays.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070913105618AAwlbpF seems to concur.

[zandperl.livejournal.com]

It appears that the molecules of the fragrance in perfumes is actually dissolved in the oil, and other chemicals such as alcohol are added to prevent allergic reactions to the concentrated oil [Wikipedia]. Perhaps body spray pulls the fragrance out into the alcohol?

I've read various places that one of the reasons scented products aren't good for birds is that the scent is carried by oils, and the oils coat the lungs of birds when inhaled - this is why scented candles are a no-no, but pure beeswax is fine. I haven't specifically read anything about body spray though, so I'm going to keep my eyes out for it.

[framefolly.livejournal.com]

I use perfume differently, and maybe someone can tell me why I shouldn't do it this way...

First, it's like make up for me -- never a daily thing, just a special occasion thing.

Second, I spray it into the air in front of me, then walk through the mist, so that it's not concentrated, and mostly gets on my clothes, but in minute quantities.

Don't know how I developed these habits -- probably just cause I'm lazy.

[zandperl.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I wouldn't do it daily either. Make-up is also a special occasion thing for me, I wear it more frequently at the start of the semester, and not at all by the end, just like dress pants.

Spraying in the air and walking through is how I've been told body spray should be done. Maybe it gives a more diffuse scent? I expect it also wouldn't last as long as if it were put under clothing. Oh, and I think I've heard that body heat activates perfume or something like that, so maybe that's another reason? Just brainstorming here.